Sea games News Update 11/13

SEA GAMES: Slow start for Malaysia

 In what is turning out to be a problem-plagued Sea Games for Malaysia, only two gold medals were won on the first full day of competition in Palembang and Jakarta yesterday.  Malaysia started the day brightly enough when taekwondo exponents Ahmady Radi and Morren Urai Lian delivered a surprise bronze in the mixed poomsae (pattern), which was officially the nation's first medal of the Games.

   That was soon followed by shooter Nur Suryani Taibi, who battled food poisoning and having to use ammunition purchased in Palembang, to win Malaysia's first gold through the  50-metre rifle three-position.Malaysia also took the bronze through Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul Halim and looked set for a bumper day.Unfortunately, Mohd Hadafi Jaafar paid a heavy price for fiddling with his trigger in the 10m air rifle and was reprimanded by a jury.This saw him losing his focus and the gold by a mere 0.1 point. A second silver followed through Khalel Abdullah in the 25m standard pistol and it was a great start for the shooters, considering all their problems.

   Women's hammer thrower Tan Song Hwa also showed great spirit as she risked her health by competing despite a slipped disc and her sacrifice paid off when she retained the gold won in Laos two years ago.
   That was, however, to be the second and final gold medal of the day as Malaysia's challenge in karate and swimming fell by the wayside.Ricky Leong had to settle for bronze despite his status of Asian champion while Jamalliah Jamaludin, chasing a hat-trick of gold medals, also finished third as karate ended the day with one silver and four bronze.In swimming,  Malaysia had to settle for two silver through Marellyn Liew (100m butterfly) and women's 4x100m medley.

 There was also gloom at the Athletes Village as, already saddened by the death of National Sports Council official Harun Osman and the hospitalisation of pole vault coach Manshahar Abdul Jalil, the food poisoning that hit Nur Suryani also affected athletes from swimming, shooting and tennis.This prompted officials to warn the Malaysians to be mindful of what they eat and hopefully, they do and the gold medals start pouring in today.

 

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